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“All of those things are bugging me. I can’t sleep, I’ve been crying every day. We’ve just had no answers whatsoever.”

The couple said Robert, who was a carpenter by trade, had fallen on hard times and was living with a friend while they looked after four of his children.

He had suffered a punctured lung after being stabbed in August and needed hospital treatment, his dad Rob said.

“He phoned us up from the hospital on August 13 but didn’t say what was wrong, he just said ‘I love you mum, don’t worry’ and that was the last we ever heard from him,” Rob says.

Robert as a boy

He believes that Robert’s condition, which often left him short of breath, might have contributed to his death.

Jeanette and Rob have been given a temporary death certificate which states that Robert’s death was “unforeseen”.

They claim an inquest into Robert’s death could not establish the cause of death and the case remains open.

Rob said: “My wife is traumatised, she can’t cope. It’s just a matter of time before I break down. I need to grieve and get it out of my system but we haven’t been able to. It hits you mentally and physically.

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Detective Inspector Mark Davies of GMP’s City of Manchester Team, said: “The circumstances of Robert’s death were tragic and understandably difficult for his family. I’d like to assure them that many dedicated and specialist resources were involved in the investigation and establishing who Robert was.

“We informed Robert’s family at the earliest possible opportunity and they have been updated on a regular basis by the Senior Investigating Officer and the Police Coroners Officer on the case, who are there to provide advice and support throughout this difficult process.

“I have every sympathy for Robert and his family during this difficult time, and we will continue in supporting the family for as long as they need.”